Display stand



E. C. FOLSOM ET AL DISPLAY STAND Filed Jan. 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 26, 1936- -E. c. FbLsoM ET AL DI SPLAYQ STAND Filed Jan. 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sumo/144306 .ofoihm dag Patented May 26, 1936 LINITED STATES DISPLAY STAND Edward C. Folsom, Cleveland, and Falor E. Smyser, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to The Ottawa River Paper Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 2, 1934, Serial No. 704,818

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to display cases, but more particularly to floor display stands of relatively stiff sheet material, such as corrugated board or the like, for use in displaying articles, such as soap bars, packages, and other commodities, in a simple, effective, and inexpensive manner.

An object is to produce a display case of this character which can be collapsed or compacted when not in use, but When desired, can be unfolded into position of use readily and conveniently; is so constructed and arranged as to present a neat and attractive appearance; and, is of sturdy and durable construction to withstand hard usage and support a sizable weight.

Other objects will hereinafter appear, and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display stand with the folder or insert removed;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the display stand shown in Figure 1 with the Walls thereof opened out;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an insert or folder for use in connection with the stand shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternate form of display stand.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 3, comprises a display case or stand of any suitable sheet material, but, preferably, relatively stiff corrugated board having a front wall I 0, rear wall H, and side walls l2 and I3. The side Wall i2 is joined to the front Wall Ill along a line of scoring M, the front wall I!) and rear wall ll being joined to the sidewall l3 along lines of scoring l5 and I6, respectively. The rear wall H and adjacent side wall [2 are connected by tape ll, such as cambric tape, securely to join these parts.

Forming a continuation of the front wall 10 and bendable along a fold line I8, is a shelf flap l9 having a vertical panel 20 extending downwardly against the inside of the front wall Ill and also a horizontal panel 2| joined to the panel 20 along a fold line 22. The panel 2! extends inwardly toward the rear wall II, and, al-= though, if desired, it may abut against the rear Wall, in this instance it extends but part way, a finishing insert or folder 23 having panels 24 and Z5 folded along the line 26 may have a force fit between the sides with the panel 24 fitting over the panel 2! and the panel 25 fitting against the rear wall ll.

It will be noted that the fold line l8 for the shelf panel 19 is disposed considerably below the upper edge of the rear wall I l, thereby to enable the back of the stand to receive suitable advertising as well as to furnish ample space to display articles. Forming a part of each of the side walls I 2 and I3 at their upper ends, is a flap 2'! of the shape of a trapezium, which is joined to the adjacent side wall along a fold line 28, which extends upwardly and rearwardly from a point spaced inwardly from the fold line l8 to the upper end of the rear wall II. It will be noted that an edge portion 29 of the side wall extends straight back horizontally from the front wall l0 adjacent the fold line I 8.

The rear vertical edge of each side flap 21 abuts against the rear wall II, and the lower edge portion of each flap extends downwardly a sufficient distance to be engaged by the panel 2| of the shelf flap I 9 as well asthe panel 24 of the insert 23 to retain the side flaps in folded relation. It is thus apparent that when the side flaps are folded down not only is an attractive appearance presented, but a sturdy and rigid construction provided.

In order to support the panel 2| of the shelf fiap l9 to enable the stand to withstand a sizable weight, a pair of sheets or panels 30 having tabs 3| secured to the rear wall II by lines of stitching 32, are arranged in vertical laterally spaced relation, with the lower ends resting on the floor or supporting surface, and the upper ends adapted to receive the panel 2! and a portion of the panel 24. The supporting panels or sheets 30 are held in spaced relation from each other by a strip 32 disposed transversely of the upper ends, being inserted in slots 33 provided in the upper ends of the panels. It will be seen that the upper edges of the panels 30 are substantially flush with the upper edge of the strip 32 The strip 32 extends beyond the outer sides of the panels 3!], and thus prevent the supporting panels swinging to one side or the other out of useful or operative supporting position. It will be understood that when the stand is collapsed, the supporting panels 30 and strip 32 collapse or fold accordingly, and are automatically brought into useful position when the stand is unfolded to position of use. The strip 32 cooperates with the panels in supporting the load imposed on the display shelf in such manner that the structure is enabled to withstand effectively a sizable load.

In the form shown in Figure 6, it will be seen that the shelf flap l9 extends straight rearwardly from the fold line [8 which corresponds to the fold line l8 above described. In this form it will further be seen that the shelf flap extends rearwardly to engage or abut against the rear wall H of the stand. Inasmuch as the remaining structure, .including the supporting panels (not shown) 'is'the .same as above described, further description thereof is not deemed necessary.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement andchoice of materials, may be efiected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A display stand having front-rear and side walls, a flap joined to the front wall'along a score line disposed below the upper end of the rear wall and having opposite sides and the inner end free, -said 'flap being foldable toward the rear wall in substantially horizontal position to provide ashelf,flaps on each-of the side walls having free lower 7 ends and being foldable inwardly against the inside thereof, saidshelf fiap abutting against said side flaps in the region of the lower ends thereof to hold same in folded position, a vertically disposed sheet providing a, support for said shelf 'fiap, a flexible connection between said sheet and one "of said walls, and means carried bysaid sheet to hold same from moving to inoperative position.

'2. 'A'display stand comprising a one-piece collapsible structure having front, rear and side walls, thefront Wall'being shorter than the rear wall, a shelf flap connected to the front wall and "adapted tolie in asubstantially horizontal position, opposite sides-and the inner end of the shelf 'flap'being free, '"a side 'fiap for each side wall foldable along a line extending upwardly and rearwardly from the front end portion of the structurefsai'd flaps-having free'lower ends and being foldable inwardly so thatthelower portions thereof are in abutting relation to the side edge portions of said shelf flap thereby to retain the side flaps in folded relation, an upright support for the shelf ilap, a transverse member carried by said-support, and a flexible connectionbetween said support and one of said walls toenable same -to fold upon collapsing'of the structure.

3. A display stand comprising a one-piececollapsible structure having front, rear and side walls, the 'front wall being shorter than the rear wall, a shelf flap connected to the front wall and adapted'to lie'in-a substantially horizontal position, opposite sides and the inneren'd of the shelf flap being free, a side :"fiap for each side wallfoldable along alineextending upwardlyand rearwardly from the front end portion of.the structure, said "flaps" having free lower ends and being foldableinwardly so that the lower portions thereof are inabutting-relation'to the side edge :portions-to'f said-:shelfflap thereby to retain the sideflaps in folded relation, a-pair of vertical. supports for said shelf flap, a flexible connection betweeneach support and one of said walls,:and astrip-to hold. said supports in spaced relation. 7

4..A display stand. comprising acne-piece collapsible structure .having front, .rear and side walls, the front wall being 'shorterthan the rear wall, a shelf flap connected to the front wall and adaptedtolie in a substantially horizontal position, opposite. side edges .and theinnerend of said shelf flap being free, a side flap for each side wall foldable along aline .extending upwardly and rearwardly from the front end portion of the structure, said flaps having free lower ends and being foldable inwardly so that the lower portions thereof are engaged by the side edge portions of said shelf flap thereby to retain the side flaps in folded relation, a pair of vertical supports for said shelf flap, a flexible connection between each support and one of said walls, and a strip extending transversely of the upper portion of said supports against which said shelf flap rests, 'said strip being also arranged to hold said supports in operative position.

5. A display stand having front, rear and side walls, a'fiap'connected atoneend to the front Wall and having its opposite end free and being foldable to a substantially horizontal position'to lie opposite to the rear'andside-walls and to constitute a shelf, a pair of substantially vertical and spaced parallel members each movably connected at one side to one of the walls and having their opposite sides free and spaced from the opposite Wall and a member connected to the parallel members transversely thereof for holding same in their parallel relation and having its ends free of connection with the walls opposite to its ends,-and being foldable with the parallel members against the wall to which the parallel members'are connected and against-one of the side walls, said parallel members having their tops engaged with the flap to support same and limit downward movement of thefree end of the flap.

6. A display stand having front, rear and side walls, a flap connected at one end to the front wall and having its opposite end free and being foldable to a substantially horizontal position to lie opposite to the rear and side walls and to constitute a shelf, a substantially vertically disposed shelf support having a side movably connected to one of the walls and having an opposite side which is free and spaced from the wall opposite to said side, and a transverse member carried by the. shelf support for holding the latter in operative position and against which the shelf abuts and foldable with the support against the wall to which the support is connected and againstone of the side walls.

'7. 'A display stand comprising a collapsible structure having front, rearand side walls, the front wall'being shorter than the rear wall, a shelf flap connected to the front wall and having a portion disposedin a substantially horizontal position, opposite sides and the inner end of the shelf flap being free, a side flap for each side wall foldable along a line extending upwardly and rearwardly from the "front end portion of the structure, said side flaps having free lower-ends and being foldable inwardly so that the lower portionsthereof are in abutting relation to the side edge portion of the shelf flap thereby to retain the side flaps in folded relation, a pair of vertical supports for said shelf flap, and a flexible connection between each support and one of said walls, said vertical supports being disposed in substantially parallel relation when in useful po- Sition and being collapsible with the structure when the shelf flap and side flaps are folded outwardly.

EDWARD C. FOLSOM. 'FALOR, E. SMYSER. 

